Big Round WorldReviews of bigroundworld.com

Just returned from my Orkney/Shetland trip with Big Round World, my 5th trip with them. As usual it was well planed and executed. Our leader, Deirdre Butler had really done her homework so that we could get the most out of the Neolithic sites that Orkney has and the grandeur of Shetland. Past trips were more hiking orientated, this one was about discovery. Orkney is a UNESCO historical site – the Neolithic structures were amazing and to be able to walk around them was humbling seeing what the people of 5000 years ago accomplished. Shetland was very different in that it had beautiful beaches and cliffs packed full of nesting sea birds. We had just missed the Puffins in Ireland, but on our last day in Shetland we finally saw them! I can’t thank Deirdre enough for giving me a trip of a lifetime!

What an incredible trip! In spite of having read and listened to audio descriptions about Orkney and the Shetland Isles - seeing them in ‘real life’ completely surpassed it all. The isles have a beauty all of their own and the embedded history is incredible. The achievements of Neolithic man are amazing, evidenced particularly at Skara Brae. Deirdre had an amazing itinerary for us following her in-depth research, nothing was left out. She even managed to produce puffins on our last day! Many thanks for a memorable trip Deirdre.

The trip was well-paced; we traveled and hiked to many great locations, and I never felt rushed. Unexpected events, like the delayed Cook Sound crossing, turned into a unplanned visit to the Wellington Botanic Gardens. I appreciate the trip leader's can-do attitude, their cheerful flexibility, and attention to detail.

Our tour guides were fantastic. They paid attention to everyone's needs, were very knowledgeable, and were constantly looking out for the entire group. I had a broken foot during thsi trip, and there was constant monitoring of the activities for what I could do. It also rained a lot while we were there, and they were very flexible about where we went to make sure we didn't have too many walks in the rain. Our group also had a lot of COVID, and they were great about following their COVID policy and turning quickly with the events. I was very appreciative of the experience.

Have just been on the Coast to Coast with Deirdre of Big Round World. A truly wonderful experience. Hiking across England - with breathtaking scenery brought to life by daily local guides whose love for the history of their surroundings was all apparent. Management of the whole trip flowed beautifully. Deirdre’s experience, knowledge and enthusiasm for the trip shone through. Long standing relationships have been built up over the years not only with all the hosts of our B&Bs but also with all the local guides who were obviously delighted to be sharing the C2C trip with Deirdre and her participants once again.

Great trip and wonderful care by Deirdre to meet everyone’s needs. There were many parts to the trip and everything was well planned out. Even with unknown issue’s Deirdre made it all worl

The England Coast to Coast trip was beyond my expectations, not only the landscapes and sceneries along the route had a varieties and beautiful, some of the country inns/B&Bs we stayed were very charming and dining options were surprisingly good also. It was a hiking trip but we had opportunities to visit castles, abby, and country villages, also enjoyed wonderful organ performance in a priory and folk songs as after dinner entertainment in Richmond. The highlight of the trip was almost everyday we had a local hiking guide walking with us, they were personable and knowledgeable of the trails and the areas, it was an enjoyment having them along the way. Deirdre is a responsible and effective trip leader, our daily hikes and transportations on certain days took place seamlessly. I'll have no doubt to go on future trips with Big Round World again!

A Walking Tour of Provence with Philippe and Dierdre as our guides, was my first experience with a small group guided tour. It was by far, the highlight of my trip to France. Excellent organization and overall fabulous choices for lodging, food, and daily explorations. Philippe served as the local guide and in addition to providing his expertise on the area history, trails, winery, flora, and fauna worked tirelessly to involve all participants and ensure we were comfortable yet challenged. I feel the whole experience was a great value, especially since it was my first time to France.